Tattoo and Piercing Aftercare
Tattoo Aftercare
Healing procedure (with Tegaderm or Saniderm):
Leave bandage on for 3 days
Remove bandage, wash thoroughly with warm water and soap.
Make sure to clean the area of all blood and plasma.
Pat dry with a clean towel. Apply a thin layer of scent/dye free lotion.
Wash and moisturize 2-3 times a day until healed.
No swimming, tanning, or hot tubs for 2 weeks.
(It is going to itch, this is your skin healing, do not scratch; You will damage the tattoo.)
Your tattoo will go through different stages of healing (e.g Scabbing, flaking, peeling) it is all normal, let it come off on its own; don’t panic or pick at it.
Expect your tattoo to go through a phase called “The Uglies” where it will look old and faded–this is a normal part of the healing process. If you have any concerns or questions about your tattoo please don’t hesitate to call, our goal is for you to have a great healing tattoo.
After 3-4 weeks, once the tattoo is healed we can take a look at it to see how it has healed, if you are in any need of touch-ups we can do that for you free of charge (excluding hand and foot tattoos). Our work is guaranteed for the lifetime of the tattoo.
Piercing Aftercare
HEALING
Week 1 | Inflammatory:
Swelling, redness and clear fluid are normal.
Saline only NO ICE!!!
Week 2-4 | Healing:
Yellow ‘crusties’ form, don’t pick ’em! Begin to warm soak.
Week 5 | Maturation:
Redness should be mostly gone. Still clean the piercing.
Week 6 | Downsizing:
Come in because we may need to change the jewelry.
ORAL PIERCING
Use alcohol-free mouth rinse 2x a day (maximum!!).
Follow FACIAL aftercare for lip piercings.
Ice and cold drinks during healing.
Swelling is normal for 2 weeks.
Eat soft foods during initial healing.
Rinse with cold water after every meal.
Do NOT play with jewelry at all.
Downsize jewelry in 2-4 weeks or when swelling has reduced.
Healing can take up to 3 months.
FACIAL & TORSO
Soak 2x a day with a saline solution (contact lens cleaner is NOT the same thing).
Be sure to rinse off excess saline in shower.
Do not turn/twist jewelry and DON’T pick at your crusties.
GENITAL
Follow TORSO aftercare.
Bleeding is normal for a week.
No unprotected sex during healing!
Sex can resume when comfortable (4-6w)
Shower before/after sex during healing.
Jewelry downsize after 6 weeks.
Piercing can take up to 6 months to comfortably heal and settle in.
ANCHORS
Saline soaks for the first 24-48hrs.
Don’t pick crusties or blood.
Let dry out, don’t cover.
Be very careful not to catch!
Don’t change the head yourself.
